Mullingar Shamrocks GAA Notes

This comfortable victory achieved with a workmanlike display ensured that the final match of the group against Rosemont will be a winner-takes-all affair with a place in the quarter final of the championship as the reward. The game has been scheduled for Cusack Park next Sunday evening at 6.00pm.

It was a difficult night for football with a strong wind blowing directly downfield towards the Harbour Court apartments. St Mary’s were wind-advantaged in the first-half but it was Shamrocks who made the initial advances and playing with great composure scored the opening two points created by the most patient of approach work. Denis Corroon and Simon Quinn were the finishers. This was followed by a Jordan Warde goal who displayed the poacher’s instinct as he collected a goalpost rebound and crashed to the net. After 7 minutes it was 1-2 to 0-0 and St Mary’s were under pressure. Points by Niall and Ned Cully reduced the deficit before Tye Adamson added another point to the Shamrocks total. This was a superb team score that began back in the left corner-back position with a great Eddie Moore turnover.

Ian Keelan pointed and a Colin Gavin sideline bounced over the crossbar to narrow the gap (1-3 to 0-4) before Patrick Fagan had his first point of the night. This was created by a Denis Corroon mark who delivered to Dean Moore who in turn supplied the pass to the inrushing Fagan who pointed. Keelan pointed again and so too did Fagan, this one created by Micheál Curley who broke through several tackles to create the chance. The centre-back continues to do what he has been doing for at least a decade: break tackles and push forward with ferocious intent. Denis Corroon added another point to leave the interval score 1-6 to 0-5, a most satisfactory position from the Shamrocks perspective given the conditions of the evening.

On resumption St Mary’s dominated the early exchanges and Niall Culley and Ian Keely pointed before Tye Adamson pointed a 45 – a rare enough occurrence for a Shamrocks player. Eddie Moore was next to feature on the scorecard after Patrick Fagan, Denis Corroon and Donal O’Donoghue combined to create the opening. Eddie chose wisely and opted to pop the ball over rather than blast for the net. Colin Gavin pointed but Tye Adamson pointed twice to widen the gap (1-10 to 0-8). Patrick Fagan ended a brilliant solo run with a point, Denis Corroon pointed a free, and good work by Alan Cashman created a point scoring opportunity for Donal O’Donoghue. A Matty Rouden pointed free rekindled St Mary’s hopes but two more Patrick Fagan points sealed the Shamrocks victory. The second effort showed that football can sometimes be a simple game. Denis Corroon marked from a restart and delivered to Daragh Daly on the edge of the square who in turn offloaded to Patrick Fagan for the point (1-15 to 0-9). In the final minutes Ian Keelan and Denis Corroon traded points and when Sean Carroll ended the evening’s football Mullingar Shamrocks were deserving 1-16 to 0-10 winners in what was a fine team performance with some great individual displays on a night when the greater experience of Mullingar Shamrocks was crucial.

The latest edition to the Westmeath football championship, the Under-17, began and ended for Mullingar Shamrocks in Tyrrellspass on Wednesday evening when Clann Braonáin proved the stronger in what was a fine game of football. The Tyrrellspass-Milltownpass combination held a deserved 1-6 to 1-4 interval lead after dominating for most of the half. Good work by Seán Óg Hynes and the fullback line of Cian Fox, Matthew Siode and Daniel Chukwuemekg helped to keep Shamrocks in the game. Clann Braonáin eased into an 1-1 to 0-0 lead before Cian Fox pointed for Shamrocks. Gary Farron the Clann Braonáin goalscorer added a point which was neutralised by a Trevor Keena free (1-2 to 0-2). Seán Óg Hynes deflected a great Brandon Kelly shot over the bar; Kelly added three more points prior to the interval. Trevor Keena and Jack Gillen had points before Keena created an opening for Jack Gillen who finished to the net (1-6 to 1-4).

Clann Braonáin outscored Shamrocks 1-5 to 0-2 in the opening quarter of the second half. Two mighty Jack Gillen pointed frees were the best Shamrocks had to offer – the second effort sailed over from the half way line. This point kick-started a Shamrocks revival that was great to see. Jack Gillen created an opening and Trevor Keena goaled, Gillen, who really stepped up to the plate in this match, added two more points. A brave Thomas Turks interception began a move that also involved Emmet Walsh and Gillen before Turks popped up to take the final pass but unfortunately Thomas shot just over the crossbar and a great chance of equalising was lost (2-11 to 2-9). Brandon Kelly pointed to steady the Clann Braonáin ship and when goalkeeper Seán Óg Hynes slipped on taking the kick-out a penalty was conceded which Liam Browne dispatched to the Shamrocks net. James Nolan added a fourth goal with a neat chip to seal the championship victory.

Mullingar Under-10s travelled to Killucan this morning to take part in the Ber Murtagh Tournament. We played and scored more than Milltownpass and Killucan in our first two matches and then lost by a single score to Clonard after an epic encounter. We trailed at half-time by 7 scores to 2 but the comeback was great. This gave us second place in the group and we qualified for the Plate Final where we were outscored by Kinnegad.

It was a great performance overall by the young players with some great scores secured and some were scoring for the first time for Mullingar Shamrocks.

Thanks to the coaches who made the journey and it is brilliant to see the parents in attendance supporting their young footballers-

The Caulry Series

We have been engaged in a mini-series with the under-age Ladies Gaelic Footballers of Caulry over the past week or so and have played the girls at Under-12, Under-14 and Under-16 level. So far it’s one victory each and a drawn match with a replay scheduled at Under-16 level.

Our Under-12 girls team took on Caulry in the quarter-finals of the Championship on Thursday evening. The two teams had played just a few weeks earlier in a group match with Caulry taking the points. The rematch was greatly anticipated. Caulry opened brightly scoring a goal with their first possession. But Shamrocks responded with a goal of their own from centre forward Nicole Isis. As the first half progressed, Shamrocks held most of the possession but could not transfer the great plays into scores. At half time Shamrocks trailed by the minimum - 1-2 to 1-1. The second half was just as gripping as the first. Shamrocks traded scores with Caulry and with 10 minutes to go the teams were level. Benedict Lolengola in goal was immense saving twice from close range to keep the scores level. But in the last five minutes Caulry managed two points and despite our best efforts the girls were unable to close the gap. The final score read 1-5 to Caulry, 1-3 to Mullingar Shamrocks. Caulry moved forward to the semi-finals and unfortunately Shamrocks are out. The girls were terribly disappointed but should be very proud of themselves and the performance that every player put in on the night. They did everything asked of them and more. They just came up short on this occasion but there is no doubt that these girls will bring home silverware to Springfield in the years to come.